I may be white trash, but my trailer's a treasure.

 No, that's not a Honey Boo-Boo quote. That's a TinyFixation original. 

As you may have read, I'm getting a new workshop. That's enough to thrill even the least-obsessed crafter. I'm a craftsperson of the very obsessed persuasion, and dammit, I've outgrown my craft palace.

This is how you may remember it:

 The main bench usually looks as above, but messier.

 ...and when it's clean.

 It actually doesn't look anything like this any more. There's been more 'organizational evolution' (if that's what we're calling it, like a garbage man is a 'sanitation engineer') since you've last seen it. Guess I should go grab a pic or two of that nonsense... just a sec.

Yuck. But I'm glad it looks like a shithole right now, just to illustrate a point. It can be workspace, or storage. Not both. A clockwise turn from the center of the room reveals catastrophe at every glance. I'm worried about my tools and projects getting lost, or *gasp* broken.

 

 Please, don't let the roombox cart hide this:

The piles behind it. Egads.

 And it continues...

It's so sad looking. I just grab what I need from the outer echelons and sit on the floor in the middle of the room. Or even worse... elsewhere. I've started leaching out into other rooms. The craft cancer is metastasizing...

...into the loft:

...and into the attic (through the other door in the craft room):

I'm even invading the garage. Band saw and dremel are down there on a current assignment.

We've spent a lot of great times in that 10' x 10' cubicle of a space, and boy has it been a nice place to play. 

 But this will not stand.

The dilemma is this: I really want a freestanding workshop structure, separate from my home. Our home is for sale. I'm not going to build a nice shed/cabin thing only to have to move out and start over again when the house sells. Ah, first-world problems. I'm just afraid if I don't finally concentrate and get started with TinyFixation on Etsy, I may never get to it. So I put both at the top of my very ambitious 2013 to-do list, a workshop and an online store.

I may have also mentioned that my husband is pretty brilliant. A man with a plan. I should have thought of the concept too, but seeing how we have the Winnebago as our recreational vehicle I never would have thought to buy another. He knew I needed more space months ago, after all, he's the one giving me all these amazing power tools for gifts lately, and wondering why I don't use them.

But a workshop on wheels is the ideal solution for my chaotic life and unpredictable living situation. It's also in our nature and history to buy old campers and redo them. This will be our third. He was going to get me one for my birthday but since he knows me like no other, figured I'd want some input. I'll be the one working in it. So we've been searching, with little luck at all. 

The trailer frame, roof, and enclosure need to be near immaculate. My favorite stuff is going to live in there. Bonus if the electrical, furnace, A/C, water heater, stove and range hood worked, but not any deal breakers there. 

The other features: dinette, couches, beds, toilet don't matter since I'll be tearing most of it out to make way for custom benches. The mice can keep the upholstery, for all I care. Enjoy, until I forcefully and brutally remove you with extreme prejudice. I hear you guys prefer peanut butter over cheese these days...

Bottom line: I need more square footage, more open, usable bench space. And some special considerations to make regarding storage since I have a small arsenal of tools and supplies for pretty much every craft except glass blowing. Shit, that sounds fun, man. So I wanted to double my square footage, and figured I could best do that in a 27' to 32' model.

So we've been around to look at three '80's era 30' to 32' slabs this month, all unfortunately not candidates.We had started calling on trailers that were 4 hours away last weekend, but those guys didn't call us back. Thank God.

Fast forward to this morning...

Vic is always on the prowl (sketchy as it sounds) on craigslist, for whateverthehell. Men.

Victor:

"Hey, here's a 29' Argosy.........

...Babe. It's an airstream."

It was 7:45 am, but no shit there I was. Couch jumping Tom Cruise style, screaming:

"How long ago was that listed? Call that motherfu*ker. RIGHT NOW!"

He's all:

"Well, let's see, where'd they list the number... oh, here,

234-(trails off...),

No fucking way."

I'm dying over here, all:

"What. What?!

Is there a problem with it? Oh, no. Is it a pile?

...or do you know this guy. Oh my God, you totally know the guy!"

Victor:

"Yup. And matter of fact, he owes me money."

So Vic gets on the phone with the guy, and we could go see it in an hour.

It has two broken windows, and the sub-floor is soft (if not removed in areas), mice have made themselves cozy, etc... but it had better bones than any of the newer model campers we'd seen. And it was old, and unusual, and had character! It's so perfect I can't even cope. It's exactly what I would have asked for if I didn't already know how expensive they are... I'd been briefed on the budget long ago. This is considered a very extravagant gift in our house. It was a gift, after-all, and I'd be more than gracious to get anything that could fulfill workshop purposes, however homely.

Which brings me to the real kicker. Go ahead hate me. It was free in exchange for forgiveness of his $500 debt. Seriously? An airstream for $500 (already under-budget), without even having to pay a dime?! Even I hate me for it.

She's a real fixer, but all four tires were in excellent shape (Tires alone = worth more than the price paid for the trailer. Ha!), so we were able to haul her glorious ass home today. I can't wait to give her a sponge bath. I think she's rough around the edges, but like me, will clean up nicely when asked.

 

 Hello, lover.

If you aren't pants-peeing excited over how beautiful that is, I don't think we can be friends.

Yep, I know. Rolling up my sleeves. Mouth guard, knee-pads, goggles...

 It's supposed to get up to 50F next week sometime, she'll be filthy until then. 

It was 20F today, so capital 'F' being outside.

I've been doing some research in the meantime.

airforums.com

 I've got the Argosy 28 twin bed center bath model. Date stamped on the trailer tag is 10/76. 1976! (I still have to do a VIN look-up to confirm). My floor plan is as seen (bottom left, in dazzling red), except the bathroom and closets are on opposite sides of the trailer.

I've found out that Airstream produced the Argosy line, which were a similar design/shape but painted. I looked on some forums and read conflicting information regarding their makeup. It's mostly aluminum but has a couple of panels made from galvanized steel. Tested it myself with a magnet. Mystery solved. I also found a full PDF manual from 1975.

I'll keep at it, and now that I've got some dimensions and a layout to work with I can start space planning.Our first steps will be to replace the two broken windows, put in new subflooring, and repair one leaky area. Until then it's pencil to graph paper, my usual process.

Which should be great practice since I have a basic plan for Undersized Urbanite.

I'll be doing up my dream Manhattan apartment, if I actually wanted to be a city girl. The catch, is that I could probably only afford 300 square feet. So it will be an adventure in cramming and creative space planning to make sure I'd be comfortable. I'm a girl who likes to stretch out.

I'll be able to construct a simple plywood roombox for this one. 

Nothing too fancy. Since 300 square foot apartment rarely is.

But only simple windows, and electrical. Nothing as elaborate as the roombox in that department.

Now that the cat's out of the bag, I guess I should get started on both of these projects.

Until next time.

P.S. About that other thing I said:

My husband also knew I wanted to drive in a demolition derby ever since he took me to watch my first, so this year he's secured me a car worth destroying for the sake of bumper cars: the real game. It's a 1996 Ford Escort station wagon. White (for now). 5-speed. October 2013.

Gonna be so dope. What a guy.

Project Roombox

I'm back! Yo.

Thank you for your patience, I hope you all had a lovely summer.

I've heard about a few upcoming *gasp*... challenges. My skin crawled at the mere reading of the word. But these come from really cool, trustworthy, tried-and-true mini bloggers. So I'll gladly participate, hope you consider. The first one that's officially on the books is from Call of the Small!

This is an item-specific challenge, but these things are really cool. Trust me, you'll want (more than) one. The cubebots are sold by AREAWARE, and are reasonably priced. On top of that, AREAWARE is giving a site-wide discount to participants (details here). I've ordered mine, and I'm looking forward to playing around with them. Like any 80's kid with a Transformer, my inner child squeals with delight at a big-girls version: real hardwood quality construction, a dude that doesn't talk back, and becomes furniture...) I got shipping confirmation in my inbox moments ago. Tuesday, baby. The deadline for submission of photos is December 1. So if you're in, don't procrastinate.

Also, it looks like Modern Mini Houses is planning a 'free samples challenge'. Date to be determined. I've been starting to collect things that I think qualify as free-samples. The challenge is to create a scene using free samples in however way you interpret. Awesome. Free is my favorite price.

For both of these challenges, aside from a few necessities, such as 7 of these:...

(So as to get the free shipping, and the 20% coupon. These will make great stocking stuffers for the nephews and nieces, if I decide I ever want to give them up. Not likely.)

...I will be attempting not to spend any extra money. I have a very well stocked craft room, and I need a lesson in appreciating what I have, instead of splurging on what I want. I will only purchase additional supplies if absolutely necessary, or unreasonably cheap

But alas, woe is me. Wherever will I create these scenes for challenges? Surely not the dollhouse. Only one unfinished room, and a horror show to photograph. I don't even want to think about it.

"I must fashion a roombox!" I exclaimed out-loud to myself. I've got a ton of supplies. I'm sure with minimal funds I can make something to suit quick change scenes, and also display products for the impending Etsy shop. It'll have to be so specific to my needs and aesthetic that I can't simply kit-bash something. It'll be home-designed and made.This will be my first task of the season, and I'll walk you through my process in case you decide such a structure is necessary. I'll explain and report any expenses, give how-to's, techniques, and show you how lucky I am at getting free stuff. It's unfair.

Above is a quick sampling of items I'll likely use, and below, the newest addition to the craft stash.

 Free fabric scraps from a quilter-friend! Psych!

I really hope this hoarding habit will pay off here... 

Let the games begin.

I beg, I steal, I borrow (overhaul - phase 2b)

Since we're eventually moving, this project has taken a bit of a turn, and I started drafting this post before the Mr. and I made the decision of a lifetime. So a few of these items are on the back burner, until we have a new stove in a different house.

I guess we should talk "objectives". You should know what I'm trying to do by now, but there are a few goals/specifications that I have in my head, and I'm not willing to compromise too much where those are concerned. Without further ado:

1. Make very efficient use of any and all available wall space.
2. Keep (frequently used) tools and materials visible and accessible.
3. If they don't make storage that works for me, make it myself.
4. Put everything on wheels. Everything.
5. Upgrade cheesy storage. Find/make/repurpose sturdy well-made items that are built for hard labor. (Use plastic dressers for lighter duty/lesser used items. Avoid cardboard boxes wherever possible.)
6. Find a balance between functionality and loveliness. Retain some semblance of personal style, however crazy and bizarre it may be. I like a lot of styles, and I don't care if they don't "go together". I didn't go to design school, so I have no rules. Ima do what I want.
7. Don't spend a fortune. (Beg, Steal, Borrow)

I've made progress on the use of wall space. I ran over to the wood shop (mentioned in previous posts as a great free resource for tools/supplies) and grabbed some old barn wood that was lying around. It's water stained, and I love the streaks. I'm leaving the wood rough, like me. I loaded it up on the old kayak racks and hauled it home. I picked up these simple brackets at the hardware store for roughly $1.25 each. I hated how boring they were, so I also grabbed a can of dark teal spray paint that was on sale for 93 cents. I also got some cool washers and screws to give them a little more visual interest. In the end, it probably cost me under $40 to get all of that storage. Don't hate the player, hate the game.




Am I crazy to love the streaks of discoloration in the wood?...


Cut 'em down, rounded one corner on each shelf, just so I don't hurt myself on them in the future. Minimally sanded, just to get any big burrs before they get me. HATE splinters.



Here comes the heartbreak. I didn't get to do the vintage wallpaper I wanted. The seller had just barely enough to cover the wall, but there would have been no extra left for matching up patterns, off-cuts, etc. I didn't want to pay $9/yd only to have it not cover the whole wall. Balls. I'm super bummed.
The paint on that wall is a pewter-ish metallic, so I guess it's cool enough. There's going to be enough distracting stuff on those shelves that you'll never notice the walls anyway. I hope.

  The rounded corners are the ones that I have to walk past to get in the attic. The shelves are made of 1'x10' boards, and are 15" between each shelf. Tall enough for most of my crap (see sewing machine, lower right, above photo)

I've been buying a bunch of stuff to make some custom storage pieces. Mostly bits/parts from craigslist, free wood from the wood shop, and a couple of furniture pieces. I called one craigslist guy to buy six large steel wheels from him to make a custom tower to hold/display fabric. He ended up letting me pick his storage unit. Twice. I got a pretty good haul from him for what I thought was a pretty reasonable price. The wheels are going to make a pretty neat piece, never seen anything like it. I'm hoping that my knight in shining armor doesn't mind sandblasting them for me so I can paint them pretty colors. That just means I have to wait for them... *sigh* ...another project that won't be completed for months.



But I also got a large piece of aluminum diamond plate which means... I'm finally getting around to following through on my original vision for my workbench. It's been 2 years waiting. I spray "lacquered" it white (using appliance epoxy paint for durability) and changed the pulls when I got it, but I'm also adding some additional hardware and refacing the drawer fronts in diamond plate. Because I need a workbench as badass as me. The bench might be the only item that won't end up on wheels. I like it right where it sits and don't see a need for it to be mobile.


I'll likely use more of that aluminum around the room, I have a few places I'd like to see it happen.

Like on this "kitchen cart" I picked up on craigslist for $30. It doesn't look like much but it is heavy steel and cast iron. I'm stripping all 80 layers of paint off it (probably lead, whatever), re-priming and painting. I'll likely cut a piece of that aluminum for the bottom shelf, just for looks. I'll be adding casters (naturally), and using this as additional workspace.

Also bought on craigslist, the most exciting find yet... a dental cabinet. A what?! Yeah, you heard me. It sounds gross at first (and it actually looks heinous in its current condition), but turns out this is a fairly uncommon art deco piece from 1930-something. It weighs a ton, and is already on casters. Score. Also, it's an excellent height at 40", so I can even put it against the knee wall if I so choose. Shwing! Once refinished, it'll be the showpiece of the room. I'm stripping and repainting this a nice bright shade of aqua (shown somewhere in the pics below). It has 16 drawers of varying depths, plus an extra pull-out work space, and pull out stainless tray. One of the shallow drawers even had 3 of the original milk-glass trays (which sell for about $20 each on etsy and ebay). So, considering my investment of $80 for the whole enchilada, I think I'm winning. The drawers are metal with wood fronts (looks like mahogany veneer under the chipping paint). The drawers roll smooth as as a baby's ass in their tracks. The dude I bought it from had been using it as a toolbox in his wood shop for years. You can imagine... I'm still cleaning it.





The refinishing of this cabinet is one of the things that'll have to wait until after the move.

I had told mom about my wall of shelving, and how I wanted to be able to see all of my supplies. My solution for that was to use clear/wire/mesh containers almost exclusively. I have a few jars, baskets, vases and such, but definitely not enough for the barrage of crap I'll be flooding those shelves with. I've been wandering around the thrift stores searching for the right pieces until... Mom was feeling generous, and we went to Homegoods. Always a pleasure. I stocked up on clear vessels in copious quantities, and a couple of bitchin' baskets, too. Thanks, Mumma!! (I've mentioned how cool my mom is, but I still don't think you fully comprehend).

Getting back to the (abandoned - everything's free) workshop... I grabbed two of these small workbenches, and I'm going to get another. I got some mini tennis balls for the feet, since some of the plastic protectors are missing.

Dude is super depressed, mourning the loss of 4 perfectly good tennis balls. He laid there for about a half hour... staring, sulking and pouting.


 I took a few pieces of Peep's (the late wood shop owner) carving wood, too. It's thick, heavy, and will make some amazing custom storage pieces.


One of the custom jobbies is a caddy to hold my entire miniature lumberyard (except for the scrap-bin). Here's the parts for that unit and a dry-run to check for fit, and then being the ogre that I am, inadvertently knocked it over:


I hate myself sometimes. I had to walk away.

Was just waiting for a 'friend' to help me build the thing (he keeps blowing me off, like a douchebag). But then again, who needs that degenerate?! Not this girl...


These are the awesomest looking casters.
All steel, no plastic. Just like me.


That front empty space (on the left in the aerial shot, above) is going to be filled up, I'm still sourcing materials to finish the compartments.


Yep, that's a spice rack.

And here's how it rolls perfectly into place next to the workbench. Nevermind Godzilla, she thinks everything is about her.




The other is pretty easy, it's a block to hold all of my dremel/drill bits and attachments. I know I need to have a minimum of 112 holes drilled to store all the bits/parts. I have a shit-ton of bits, believe me, I had to count them. I don't even know what half of them do, but I'm itching to find out. The harder part of this is that I want to build a box-style floating shelf, the bit block can be displayed on top, but in the box part, I'll put my dremel tools/boxes. I have a standard electric rotary tool (same concept as Dremel, but it's a Craftsman), I have a Dremel engraver, and their contour sander. I'd like all of these to be stored together, because they're obviously a clique that thinks hand-tools are for losers. The hot chicks: wood burner, heat gun (plastic soldering), soldering iron(s), (and torches, eventually) will have their own special place, too. I feel like I'm back in my high-school cafeteria, stereotyping who sits at each table.

There you have it.


That's all for now. I'm drained, and we're only a week into being 'on the market'. We've had one couple come to look our house twice so far, and we went to check out a real dive last night. We liked the lot and location, but the house needed to be condemned, or at least ripped down to the foundation and rebuilt. I can't believe they have kids living in there.

Needless to say, the wine's been going down pretty smooth these days.
Later, dudes.